Boat



E. H. HARPER BOAT I March 29,1927.

Filed Sent. 10. 1925 L ver- I [fr/res! Harper I 1,622,50t PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST H. HARPER, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

BOAT.

Application filed September 10; 1925. Serial No; 55;448.

The invention relates to improvements in boats and especially in suchfor example as row boats, skiffs, canoes and the like.

One of the objects is to increase the buoyancy of boats without verymaterially increasing the weight or dimensions of such crafts.

Another object is to materially stabilize boats bv placing the buoyantmembers longitudinally thereof outside of and substantially parallelwith the gunwales, and thus prevent crankiness of the vessel.

A further object is to provide an improved means of fastening buoyantmembers to boats.

A still further object is to reinforce the side walls of canvas boats byapplication thereto of at least two sheets of canvas comprising thecontainer for the removable buoyant members.

And another object is to improve means for attaching buoyant members toboats.

Other objects, advantages and benefits of the invention will becomeapparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric perspective of a boat showing the inventionapplied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section through one of the side walls ofthe boat and the buoyant member attached thereto; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal and elevational view of one of the canvasattaching means.

In all the views the same reference characters indicate similar parts.

As shown on the drawings:

The invention is especially adaptable for use in connection with canvasboats although it may be used with benefit on boats made of wood, metalor other rigid material.

In the drawings I have shown a canvas boat 5, having metal ribs 6-6 andgunwales 7-7 in which there is a wire 8 covered with canvas, as at 9.

The wall 10 is of canvas and located outside of the ribs. Near the keelof the boat and substantially parallel with the gunwales of the boat,and one on each side, is a flap 11 secured to the wall 10 by stitching12, or otherwise. This flap has grommets at intervals through its upperedge.

A pocket structure 18 is made of two sheets of fabric 14-15 to containan elongated inflatable tube 16.

The sheets 14 and 15 are secured together at their top edges as at 17and separated at their lower edges. These lower edges have registeringgrommets 18 at intervals corresponding to the grommets in the flap 11 toreceive the lacing cord 19. At intervals, books 20 are attached to theupper edges of the members 14 and 15 to hook over the gun- Wa-les 77, asclearly shown in Figure 1.

An elongate, imperforate, inflated tube 21 is to be contained in thepocket 13 formed by the sheets 14 and 15 and serves as the buoyantmember.

The tube 21 may be made of rubber, similar to the inner tubes ofautomobile tires and may be inflated and deflated in the same manner.

'I'ne pocket members 14. and 15 are secured in place by the hooks 20.The tube 21 is then placed between the sheets and the lower edges of thesheets, 14 and 15, are laced together and to the'fiap 11 through thegrommets.

The buoyant elements including the members heretofore described, may bequickly separated, the tube deflated and the parts folded or rolled intorelatively small packages for transportation or storage.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A buoyant element for a boat comprising an elongated inflatable tube,in combination With a boat; a fabric flap attached by its bottom edge tothe boat substantially parallel with the gunwale of the boat and havingattaching members at its top edge to engage a covering member and acovering member having cooperating attaching means near its bottom edgeto secure it to said flap and having hooks at its top edge to secure itto the gunwale of the boat.

2. A detachable buoyant element for a boat comprising an elongatedpocket having two sheets of fabric secured together at their upperedges, each sheet at its lower edge having fastening means normallydisconnected; an elongated inflatable tube to be contained in theaforesaid pocket; means to secure the lower edges thereof together andto a boat to hold said tubes therein and hooks at intervals along theupper joined edges of said pocket to secure said pocket to the gunwaleof a boat.

3. A detachable buoyant element for a boat comprising an elongatedpocket having two sheets of fabric secured together at their upperedges, said sheets having cooperating grommets at intervals along theirlower edges; an elongated inflatable tube to be contained in said pocketbetween said sheets;

an elongated flap having corresponding 10 gronnnets in its upper edgewhereby to lace said sheets and flap together and means at the upperedges of said connected sheets for engagement with the upperlongitudinal edge of the boat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ERNEST H. HARPER.

